Birds are the largest vertebrate group in the zoology collection, with many rare examples of extinct and endangered species in the collection. This collection consists of 6,000 taxidermy and 3,000 clutches of eggs. The collection contains British species at all life stages, and the international collection contains around 600 species. This was mostly acquired through the purchase of a few large collections. Major collectors include Richard W. Chase, William R. Lysaght, John L. Auden and the taxidermist John Betteridge.

Includes:

• the Great Auk

• Hua

• Passenger Pigeons

• Phillip Island Parrot

• Ivory-billed Woodpecker Kakapo

• specimens of the ‘Hastings rarities’.